How does alcohol affect your metabolism

We’ve all heard the expression ‘beer belly’. Alcohol is renowned for being packed with calories, but are calories solely to blame for weight gain or is the way the body metabolises alcohol also a factor?

In this article, we take a closer look at the relationship between alcohol and metabolism, exploring what happens to our bodies when we consume alcoholic drinks such as beer or wine.

What is metabolism?

Metabolism refers to the chemical process that occurs when your body converts food and drink into energy. Our bodies need this energy to do everything from breathing to thinking and growing, keeping us alive and functioning. It’s a complex process that combines calories and oxygen to create and release energy. This basic energy requirement is known as your basal metabolic rate (BMR). Factors that influence your metabolism include age, sex, muscle mass and general health.

How alcohol is metabolised by the body

When you drink alcohol, the liver breaks it down into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which the body identifies as a toxin. Acetaldehyde is then converted into water and carbon dioxide, prior to being eliminated from the body

Effects of alcohol on metabolism

1. Liver damage

Drinking more than the recommended amount on a regular basis can cause permanent to the liver, impairing its function in metabolism.

2. Prioritised metabolism

Alcohol is metabolised before other nutrients, pausing the fat burning process.

3. Weight gain

The combination of calorie-packed alcohol and slowing down of the fat burning process leads to fat being stored for longer, causing what is often referred to as a ‘beer belly’.

4. Hormonal imbalance

Alcohol can disrupt hormones involved in appetite regulation and the metabolism process, contributing to weight gain.

5. Nutrient deficiency

Alcohol can disrupt the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals, impacting overall metabolic health.

How long does alcohol stop fat burning?

When you have a glass of wine or beer (which are both packed with calories), your body will prioritise processing that alcohol, meaning your body shuts down all other metabolic pathways until the alcohol is fully out of your system, including fat metabolism. Once that’s complete, the body will slowly work its way through sugar and simple carbohydrates before finally beginning to burn fat. This pause can last up to 36 hours, depending on factors like the amount consumed and individual metabolism.

Does alcohol lower metabolism?

Regularly drinking alcohol does indeed slow down your metabolism. Alcohol can disrupt how food moves through the digestive tract and as explored above, the body will metabolise it before any fats or nutrients. This leads to fats being stored away for longer, resulting in weight gain.

Heavy drinking over a long period of time can also cause more permanent damage to the stomach and digestive tract. This can lead to a slower metabolism, even when not drinking.

Worried about your relationship with alcohol?

If you live in Dorset and want to drink less or lose weight to maintain a healthier lifestyle, we are here to help! Our friendly team of professional advisors and coaches are ready to provide personalised action plans to help people in the Dorset area achieve their goals. Why not register today or contact us to find out more about the services we provide? 

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How does this work?

The tailored approach LiveWell Dorset uses to come up with solutions to the things that are stopping us achieving our goals, is based upon work done by University College London developing the COM-B model of behaviour change. In this model, all behaviour is influenced by understanding a person’s capability to change, their opportunity to change and their motivation to change. By understanding which of these is the biggest barrier to change, we can tailor support accordingly. This model of behaviour change is at the centre of the support we offer, online and in person.

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